Behind the McConnell laugh

It has been reported that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was less than impressed with the White House's fiscal-cliff proposal. So unimpressed was the Kentucky Republican that he burst out into laughter.

A senior administration official provided more detail. When Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner handed over the White House's proposal to McConnell, McConnell looked at it and smiled a smile that said, "Yeah right."

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile," Geithner responded.

At which point, McConnell burst out laughing.

*** UPDATE *** A Republican congressional source says that Geithner's proposal was oral, not written. And the source argues that McConnell "found their un-serious offer amusing."